Wednesday, May 29, 2013

Community Financial Credit Union is gearing up for another
“Summer of Sharing.” Throughout the summer, beginning June 7, Community
Financial will donate $1,000 each business day to a deserving non-profit.

Summer of Sharing, now in its third year, invites the
community to nominate non-profit organizations that are doing exceptional work
in their communities, by sharing a story that explains how $1,000 would help accomplish
goals that in turn, help the community.

Community Financial team members present a check for $1,000 to the Lighthouse Family Charity organization of Michigan during last year's Summer of Sharing.

“We
are always happy to invite the community to tell us which organizations are
doing great work and deserve additional financial support,” said Bill Lawton,
Community Financial Credit Union president/CEO.
“It is part of our culture to give back to local communities and we are
proud to bring ‘Summer of Sharing’ back once again.”

Since the inception of Summer of Sharing,
Community Financial has donated over $120,000 to non-profits in the area and plans
to donate an additional $60,000 this year.

“We know there are hundreds, if not
thousands, of wonderful non-profits doing amazing work to make our communities
great places to live,” Lawton said. “We
want to help celebrate and benefit them, but we need the communities’ help to
let us know who they are.”

So, as you kick off the summer, think about
a charitable organization that helps your community. To
nominate your favorite non-profit and to see who receives $1,000 each day, visit
www.SummerOfSharing.org.

Monday, May 20, 2013

With the Memorial Day weekend
coming up, plenty of Michigan families are making plans to head Up North, open
backyard pools or put their docks in at their summer cottages.

Across the country, according to
a TripAdvisor.com survey, more people are planning to travel this
weekend and over the course of the summer compared to last year. Between finding work-life balance, stress
relief, or simply scheduling time to “veg out,” Americans are clearing their
schedules this summer to make time for themselves and others.

How will you invest in yourself
this year?

Why not experience Pure
Michigan by getting the boat you’ve had
your eye on? Or perhaps you could finally get the motor home you’ve been longing
for to take the family on that long-awaited vacation.

Whatever you have been dreaming
about for this summer – from autos or boats to RVs or ATVs, Community
Financial Credit Union has the
loan to fit your needs – and your budget.

The loan process is quick and
easy so you’ll spend less time filling out paperwork and more time with family
and friends.

Tuesday, May 14, 2013

While the unemployment rate has
dropped in Michigan, it can still be challenging for high school and college
students to find jobs for the summer.

According to a recent news
report, teen and student employment has been slipping for more than a
decade. The report, from Andrew Sum, director of the Center for
Labor Market Studies at Northeastern University, said that in 2000, over 51
percent of teens had summer jobs in 2000 while only 30.5 percent worked last
year.

So what is a student to do while
home from school for the summer? According to Sue O’Connor, senior
marketing representative at Community Financial and mother of two college
students who have successfully landed summer jobs while in high school and
college, there are some things students can do to increase their chances of
being hired.

“Don’t be afraid to be
aggressive, without being rude or a pest,” O’Connor said. “For example,
in high school my daughter landed a job with a new restaurant by visiting the
construction site before the business was even open. She was able to get
her application in early and she worked at the business for several years. ”

Some other tips from O’Connor
include:

· Make
a resume: Make sure it is free of errors and be sure to include
leadership experience and school involvement if you don’t have employment
experience.

· Include
if you have your own car & references that are not relatives: Look to
people like neighbors, teachers or people who hired you to babysit.

· Look
the part: Dress up to deliver your resume and apply – often times you will be
judged before you are even considered.

· Treat
everyone like they are interviewing: The other employees may have a say in who
will be hired, so be courteous and outgoing to everyone.

· Be
ahead of the hiring: Look for new stores that are not open and call or email
any contact listed to see when they are hiring.

· Network:
Ask friends who work if their employers are hiring.

· Follow
up: Send a thank you note to anyone you interview with and ask when you
should hear back from them – then follow up again if you do not hear anything a
few days after that.

· Be
open to any job: Don’t limit yourself. Working at a variety of places can
give you the experience future employers are looking for.

The
above tips aren’t a guarantee of summer employment, but following them could
put you on the right track to earn some extra cash this summer.

Tuesday, May 7, 2013

Consumers spend so
much time and effort finding the right car online and at local auto dealerships,
it comes as a surprise that they are ready and willing to settle for their auto loan right there on the spot,
without doing much research.

Not shopping for the right loan could cost
customers large sums of money,
especially when better options could be available if they took the time and looked
outside the dealership.

Consumers may not realize it but more often than not, auto financing at
the dealership is negotiable. The dealerships’ business managers are actually salespeople working on commission. That means that may or may not always be
interested in getting their customers the best rates.

That is why it is
important to arrange your auto financing with a financial institution before
going into the dealership. With your
auto financing settled before, you’re able to compare what the dealership
offers and stay within your budget.

Dealerships also
make profits on loans and leases negotiated on site, a practice that has led
to the Center for Responsible Lending and other consumer advocates to argue
that dealerships should disclose how much they make on loans and leases to
clear any confusion among customers.

When buying or
leasing a new car, it’s important to take your time and not make any snap
decisions without considering all your options.

And when it comes
to loans, it’s best to take the time to shop around and find the best rates
before visiting the dealership. Consider
using an online financial calculator that can help you compare different terms
and rates.

To help you
understand your finance options as they relate to your specific situation, talk
with experts in the finance field in order to get the best value in what will
be a major purchase.

Community
Financial Credit Union is here to help and currently offering rates as low as
1.24% APR*, a historically low number.
You can learn about financing in a low-pressure environment where you
can make the best decision for you and your family.